One-piece cap with flexible straw and sealing disk for baby bottle

ABSTRACT

A baby bottle cap which comprises a one-piece cap which attaches to the open end of a baby bottle neck, a flexible straw extending from the interior of the baby bottle, through the inlet of the cap to a position outside of the baby bottle, and a removable sealing disk. The innermost hole of the inlet applies pressure to the flexible straw to create a leak-proof seal between the cap and the flexible straw and to hold the flexible straw in place. The sealing disk is secured to the underside of the cap which will create a leak-proof seal for traveling and storage. This apparatus will be used for a toddler that is weaning off of a bottle nipple learning to drink from a straw and used as a drinking device for the toddler years.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a one-piece cap with a flexible strawand sealing disk that replaces the nipple and annular ring on the neckof a baby bottle, specifically to accommodate the child to teach themweaning off of the nipple and for continued use once the child learns todrink from the straw.

2. Related Art

At present, there are no adaptors for baby bottles that are one-piececaps with flexible straws to replace the nipple and annular ring toallow the bottle to be converted into a device which liquid can be drawnthrough a straw. It is recommended for infants to wean from using anipple by the age of one-year-old to prevent tooth decay, reduce therisk of ear infections, and to prevent lisps and other speech problemssuch as difficulty with articulation and clarity of speech. Furthermore,it is recommended to avoid the use of a sippy cup, a training cup with alid and perforated spout and a common cup used to wean off of thenipple, and go straight to cups with straws instead. This is recommendedto prevent issues where teeth are pushed forward or outward from thespout on sippy cups since the spout misplaces the tongue and pushes theteeth out. (Mann, Denise. “So Long Sippy Cups, Hello Straws.” WebMD Feb.11, 2008. 9 Feb. 2012<http://children.webmd.com/news/20080212/so-long-sippy-cups-hello-straws>).It is also believed that the most natural step when weaning from thenipple would be to use a straw to draw liquid out of a container insteadof a sippy cup because the sucking motion of drawing liquid out of anipple is similar to the sucking motion of drawing liquid through thestraw. Sippy cups force the baby to learn a whole new way of drinking byhaving to tip the cup up and the head back to allow gravity to bringliquid out of the cup.

Along with the health benefits of using a straw cup, there is a need fora product that makes transitioning from nipple to straw easier, allowsfor the option of using glass to hold the liquid and saves money byallowing to continue to use the already owned bottle supply and not haveto purchase a new inventory of trainer and toddler cups.

To address the issue of making transitioning from a nipple to a straweasier, babies are used to their bottle and like consistency. A lot ofcaretakers have problems with the transition from bottle to cup becausethe baby sees a new object that is not their familiar bottle and theyrefuse to drink from the new cup. This invention solves this problembecause the baby gets to continue to drink from their familiar bottle.Along with this, bottles are a good size in diameter for a child tograsp, while trainer cups or sippy cups tend to be wider in diameter.

To address the issue of the need for a glass option to hold liquidinstead of plastic or stainless steel, the present invention gives theoption for the caretaker to attach the one-piece cap with flexible strawto a glass bottle. Most sippy and toddler cups are made out of plasticand there are a few on the market made out of stainless steel. Whilethis one-piece cap with flexible straw can be attached to a plasticbottle, it can also be attached to a bottle made out of glass. Bothplastic and stainless steel can leach unwanted substances into theliquid that the toddler is drinking. Other drawbacks of stainless steelinclude that it is hard to warm the liquid it contains and it is nottransparent to see the amount of liquid the child has already consumed.There is a need for an alternative drinking container. For the caregiverthat feels glass is the best container for their child, they now havethe option to continue to use their glass bottles after a child hasstopped using a nipple and not have to worry about leaching of plasticor stainless steel into the liquid.

To address the financial issues and issues of over consumption, when aninfant is ready to start weaning from a nipple, caregivers are forced topurchase a whole new inventory of cups since sippy cups or straw cupsmust be purchased as a whole unit. The caregiver has invested money in alot of baby bottle gear and now the bottles are no longer able to beused. A cap that can attach to the top of a baby bottle allows thecaregiver to continue to use the supply of baby bottles that theyalready own and saves them money from having to purchase a whole newinventory of drinking containers. With this invention, caregivers spendless money and consume less materials, which is a benefit for theenvironment. Along with this, they do not have to purchase an array ofdifferent brands of cups with spouts or straws for the toddler to testout to see which one suits the toddler best since the toddler is alreadycomfortable with their bottle.

Since the caregivers have been using the baby bottles for a while, theyare accustomed to and have a routine of both preparing the liquid,washing and traveling. The present invention allows for the caregiver tocontinue using the process that they currently use of washing,maintenance or usage techniques without them having to learn and adaptto a whole new system. An example is that infants often like theirliquid warmed, but if a caregiver switches to stainless steel trainingcups, heating the liquid could pose to be an issue.

Although the present invention consists of three pieces, a one-piececap, a flexible straw and a sealing disk. In order to use the device,all that is necessary is the one-piece cap and flexible straw to beassembled to the bottle neck. The sealing disk is provided to give anoption of storing the liquid or traveling with liquid in the bottle. Theone-piece cap with the straw are less pieces to assemble, carry fortravel and wash verses those that are described in the references citedin the following paragraphs.

Inventors have created several types of straw mechanisms or cups to beused by infants, but each has disadvantages. Examples of such are foundin patent literature. Comparing to U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,117 to Dawn R.Garvin discloses a Straw Adaptor for Baby Bottle, which includes a firstend that is curved and flattened for drinking and a second end that isstraight and extends nearly to the bottom of a baby bottle. The devicefurther includes a flattened, disc-shaped collar nearer its first end.This collar has a concentric, upstanding ridge on its upper face whichregisters with the inside edge of a threaded, annular baby bottle cap.The patent puts great necessity on the shape of the first end of thestraw which is the drinking end by using a specifically shapedmouthpiece. Having a specific shaped mouthpiece hinders the infant frombeing able to move the straw end to a specific height or contour to itsmouth. Alternatively, the present invention specifically has a flexiblestraw to adjust to the child's comfortable height, and can flex insidethe child's mouth. Turning back to U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,117, theadditional piece that is inserted within a threaded annular cap is notas convenient as the one-piece model, causing more pieces needed to beput together for use, travel and to wash. An issue arises with the strawlength since the straw is cited as having a length slightly less thanthe depth of a standard baby bottle, which does not allow the child todraw up all of the liquid in the bottle, always leaving some liquid inthe container. The present invention allows the straw to curve along thebottom to assure that all liquid can be reached and drawn up through thestraw. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,117 is specifically for “standard”baby bottles limiting the size of bottles that can be used. There is aneed for a device that can draw all liquid from the bottle and is opento manufacturing all sized bottles like the present invention addresses.

Description of Related Art United States Patent 2004/0169002 to IllissaCarrol White-Wooten discloses a Bottle Sipper Adapter and Method forUsing Same, which includes a bottle adapter that inserts into the mouthof a standard-sized baby bottle and converts it into a “sippy bottle”for toddlers who have outgrown nipples and can negotiate straws. Theadapter, which is normally made of soft plastic, comprises a disk with alip around the periphery that fits into the mouth of the bottle,providing a leak proof seal. The disk further defines a center hole forthe straw, such straw being made from soft, flexible plastic which istransparent so that one can easily ascertain its cleanliness. Thispatent is not a one-piece top, but an insert into the mouth of astandard-sized baby bottle that replaces the nipple. The threaded ringis retained and is still used to hold the disk in place. The material isspecified to be made out of soft vinyl or any other type of plastic.Problems that arise with this product are that it is a small, loose diskmade out of thin material that is not a one-piece unit top and it can beeasily lost through everyday use or for travel outside the house. Thishas to be used with the threaded ring and results in additional piecesneeded to put the product together for use or to wash. There is also nooption for a cover to allow for travel. When purchasing a bottle, alongwith the bottle, threaded ring and nipple, it also comes with a coverthat either encases and/or compresses the nipple so there is no spillingor leaking, for storage or travel. If someone already owns a bottlebrand that uses a bottle cover that is designed for use with a nipple,the person will not be able to travel with this system as the liquidwould spill throughout the center hole of the disk since this piece doesnot come with an plugging option for the center hole. Per the claims,the center hole generally orthogonally, which doesn't allow the straw tomove at a slight angle to contour to the child's preferred height andangle. It also puts no emphasis on the importance of the flexibility ofa straw and would allow a non-flexible straw. The present inventionsolves all of these issues being that it is a one-piece cap, provides anoption for travel and storage with the sealing disk, has a conical anglefor the straw in order to allow the straw to be placed in various anglesand allows for the inlet for the straw to be placed in the center orside of the top. The present invention also can be made to fit varioussizes of baby bottles.

U.S. Pat. No. 2011/0011819 to Kathy Gayi Lee discloses a Modular FeedingBottle, which includes a modular feeding system assembled as an upright,hands-free feeding bottle or a traditional nurser bottle (which requiresholding the bottle during feeding). The other complementary, modularparts can be used to convert the bottle (or other suitable container)into a sippy cup or a sports bottle. The parts offer versatility inbottle feeding to the user, whether it is an infant, toddler, adult,elderly person or animal. This patent goes into much detail about havinga valve for fluid control. It states that at least one aperture isrequired for the structure to act as a valve. This product must includea value and does not leave an option for not having a valve which is adisadvantage for children learning to drink from a straw. The presentinvention prefers no valve in order to make pulling liquid up throughthe straw easy so the infant can learn how to use a straw when weaningfrom the bottle. A lot of times toddlers have issues with the strawswhen there is a valve because the valve makes it harder to draw theliquid up and the child may not fully understand the concept of how towork the straw in order to open the valve. The modular feeding bottlestates in an example that, “the child's teeth compress the sides of thefluid control valve to open the passage and allow for the fluid toflow.” This straw would be for an experienced drinker of a straw,whereas the present invention can be used by an infant weaning from thebottle and learning the straw. The infant would not know how or have theexperience to control a valve. Another disadvantage of the modularfeeding bottle is that the straw must be used in conjunction with agasket made of a soft, malleable material. The present invention has nouse for a gasket and instead is a one-piece hard plastic top without thehassles of the additional pieces to be placed inside the threadedannular ring. The other issue is that the modular feeding bottle allowsfor the straw to be made out of a harder texture than the gasketportion. Using a harder plastic for the straw would hinder the child orcaregiver from being able to manipulate the height of the straw and alsowould not conform to the comfort of the child's mouth. A harder strawwould be something the child has to adapt to, where a flexible straw,like the present invention, adapts to the child's preferred height andcan be easily moved in the mouth to a preferred position.

U.S. Pat. No. US 2009/012894 to Berna Kario, Haluk Hannavi, DanI I.Kario discloses a Multifunctional Bottle Cap, which includes amultifunctional drinking bottle cap for attachment to a plurality ofdifferent sized bottle neck diameters and includes a base member, adrinking mechanism attachment accommodation for a drinking mechanismselected from a flexible nipple, a spout and a straw. The base memberhas a dispensing orifice that extends from top to bottom for dispensinga liquid from a bottle. The bottom of the base member has a plurality ofconcentric threaded orifice sections with sequentially decreasingdiameters when measured from the bottom to the top, and the top has anattachment ring collar connection, such as a screw thread, snap fitconnector, bayonet connector or other similar connector. There is adrinking mechanism selected from the group consisting of a flexiblenipple, a spout and a straw that partially engages the aforesaiddrinking mechanism attachment accommodation of the base member. Theattachment ring collar is adapted to fit over the drinking mechanism andto attach it to the base member. The purpose of the multifunctionalbottle cap is to be able to drink directly from the manufacturer'scontainer and to solve the problem of having to transfer liquids to ababy bottle. When comparing this related art to the present invention,we will focus on the disadvantages of the straw design. Since themultifunctional bottle cap attaches to manufacturer containers thatalready contain liquid a caregiver would find this product costly sincethey would need to have these prepackaged, single serving containers forevery feeding. An issue arises with using unfamiliar containers, whichmay make the child hesitant to drink from something unfamiliar and thisinvention is not intended for the child weaning from the nipple to astraw. If the multifunctional bottle cap was used on a daily basis andcan fit on a bottle, the plurality of different sized bottle neckdiameters in the bottom of the devices causes a sanitary issue,especially with milk and other spoiling liquids since liquids can easilydry in between the many thread if not cleaned thoroughly. Along withthis, the way the straw is connected uses a three, separate piece systemfor the straw to fit into. These are more parts to assemble for use,wash and take for travel as compared to the present invention that is aone-piece cap with a flexible straw. Lastly, the attached cap for thetop of the straw is a distraction and should the material that attachesthe cap break, the cap would be unsafe since it is small and a possiblechoking hazard.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,759,071 to Rebecca R. Nye; Daniel J. Nye discloses aMethod for Manufacture of Container for Storage and Serving ofBreastmilk, which includes a disposable, aseptic package for storage andserving of perishable beverages. The package is generally cylindrical inshape, the top of which is provided with a circular flange about thecircumference of the package, such that the filled package can bedropped down into a cylindrical outer holder. The package is held withits top surface near the top of a holder by the flange. A dispensingassembly, such as a nipple assembly or straw assembly, is mounted atopthe holder. As the dispensing assembly is mounted on the holder, apenetrating conduit engages the top surface of the package and puncturesit, thereby providing a via for the beverage to flow freely from thepackage to the dispensing assembly, such as through a nipple or througha straw. Although this prior art incorporates a straw, per part 5,second paragraph, the patent states “this straw-type assembly is usefulfor serving perishable fluids to non-infants, such as nutritionalsupplements to bedridden patients and elderly persons.” The straw optionis clearly stated that it is not for use for infants. Anotherdisadvantage is that the straw option is to be used with the disposable,aseptic package.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,506,754 to Eugenio Segovia, Jr.; Kurt S. Myers disclosesa Baby Bottle/Beverage Device, which includes a contemporary beveragedispenser, especially suited as a baby bottle, comprising a solidconnector that has an upper portion and a lower portion and a plasticbag connected to the lower portion. The uniqueness of the combination ofthe connector and bag is that the connector is designed to fit on thelip of a conventional baby bottle with the bag in the bottle or is usedwithout a bottle. When used without a bottle, a compression ring is usedto connect a head, such as a nipple, to the beverage dispenser of thepresent invention. Disadvantages of this related art is that it is to beused with a plastic bag and has a separate insert that replaces thenipple to hold a straw. The use of the plastic bag is not ideal forweaning off of a bottle and the plurality of pieces (not a one-pieceunit like the present invention) for assembly to use and wash are not asconvenient as the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,661,546 to Yi Xin Jiang discloses a Switch Cap forDrinking Bottle, which includes a rotatable cap; a sucker receivedinside the rotatable cap; a cap cover covering the rotatable cap; and aswitch portion; wherein the rotatable cap is rotatably connected with acircled round mouth the drinking bottle by the switch portion. Thisproduct's purpose is for attachment of a drinking bottle, such as amineral-water bottle, to attach a nipple to the drinking bottle makingit suitable for a baby to drink from. This invention also allows theoption of a straw to be inserted into the nipple (section 3 paragraph 1)and claim 1. This also includes a hinged cap that can be pivoted to openor locked closed. While this product is not seemingly for use on a babybottle or to be used for many feedings per day, it also proves unsafewith the hinged top that can close on fingers or serve as a distractionto an infant who is learning to wean from a bottle. If the hinge wasremoved it would be a safety hazard leaving sharp points exposed. Theinvention calls for a straw, which can be made out of hard plastic, tobe inserted into the nipple. This set up is undesirable for teaching aninfant how to use a straw. Using a harder plastic for the straw wouldhinder the child or caregiver from being able to manipulate the heightof the straw and also would not conform to the comfort of the child'smouth like the present invention's flexible straw. A harder straw wouldbe something the child has to adapt to, where a flexible straw adapts tothe child. The plurality of pieces is more to assemble for use and towash and is not as convenient or sanitary as the present invention,which consists of a one-piece cap.

U.S. Pat. No. 20100127005 to Peter Sanbrook, Sean Edwin Moran, JonSeddon discloses Inventions Relating to Drinking Vessels, which includesa drinking vessel provided for use in an upright orientation and anupturned orientation. The vessel includes a mouthpiece portion and aconduit portion fluidly connected to the mouthpiece portion. The conduitportion has a lower opening through which fluid may be drawn to themouthpiece portion when the vessel is oriented in a substantiallyupright orientation. The vessel further includes an intermediate inlet(fluidly connected to the mouthpiece portion). The intermediate inlet isdisposed intermediate the lower opening and the mouthpiece portion. Thevessel further includes a flow controller operable to control flow tothe mouthpiece portion from the intermediate inlet, according to theorientation of the vessel. A lid for a drinking vessel and a drinkingconduit are also claimed. Disadvantages of this related art are that itdoes not have the ability to attach to baby bottles, unlike the presentinvention which is made to attach to the neck of a baby bottle. It alsoincludes a molded mouthpiece/spout which does not conform to a baby'smouth, rather something the baby needs to conform to instead, whichcauses difficulty when weaning from the nipple. The current inventionallows the baby to have a flexible straw that conforms to the baby'spreferred height and positioning.

In addition to the related art mentioned above, there is a large size ofrelated art for hands free feeding systems where there is a straw thatextends from the top of the baby bottle but has a nipple on the end toallow for hands free feeding. U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,290, U.S. Pat. No.4,994,076, U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,474, U.S. Pat. No. 90,606. These relatedarts and the like are not indented or advised to be used without anipple. Further disadvantages are the length of the straw is so longthat it would take a long time for the child weaning from the nipple todraw liquid through the straw. The straw is also a strangulation hazardand a distraction for children who play, kink or pull on the cord-likestraw. Many of these related arts have the straw attach to the cap thatis screwed onto the bottle top, which allows for the straw to becomeunattached from the cap easily should an infant pull on the cord-likestraw. I have not seen these related arts have a cap that preventsleaking and spilling for travel or one that is to be used without thenipple. This shows the importance of the nipple in these related artdesigns and how they are not to be used without a nipple.

Notwithstanding the related art, the present invention is neither taughtnor rendered obvious thereby. While the aforementioned related art maybe generally suitable for their intended purposes, they neverthelessleave something to be desired from the standpoints of needing an adaptorfor a baby bottle that has minimal pieces for assembly, wash and travelthat also includes a sealing disk for travel and a flexible straw thatcan be adjusted for height and manipulated by the child for a desiredposition in the mouth when in use. Thus, a need presently exists for aone-piece cap with a flexible straw and sealing disk, which allows thechild to easily learn to wean from a nipple by continuing to use theirfamiliar bottle, gives an option to attach to glass baby bottles,benefits the planet with less consumption, saves the caretaker money byallowing them to use their already owned supply of baby bottles forcontinued use even after the child has weaned from the nipple, allowsthe caretaker to use their familiar routine of getting liquid ready forthe child and is a design that has minimal pieces for assembly, washingand travel.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention ofa one-piece cap with flexible straw and sealing disk which improvesupon, and overcomes shortcomings of related art are:

(a) to allow the caretaker to continue to use the inventory of bottlesthey already own, which both saves the caretaker money and benefits ourplanet by reducing consumption;

(b) to allow the infant to go through the weaning process with a bottlethat they are already familiar and comfortable using;

(c) to give the alternative option of glass instead of plastic orstainless steel as the container to hold liquid once the infant is nolonger using a nipple;

(d) to allow the caretaker to continue their familiar process of heatingand preparing liquid;

(e) to provide an adaptor for a baby bottle that has minimal pieces forassembly, usage, washing and travel.

Further objects and advantages are having a flexible straw that allowsthe infant to move it around their mouth so the child can achieve theirpreferred position and is also flexible that the straw can be adjustedin height by either pushing or pulling through the cap. This allows moreconformity to the infant instead of the infant having to conform to asolid mouthpiece. The length of the straw gives it the ability to beadjusted and can be pushed into the bottle further so that it rests onthe bottom of the bottle and allows the child to draw up all of theliquid. The flexible straw can be bent and contained inside the bottlefor a convenient travel system. The present invention prefers anon-valved straw for weaning purposes which makes it easier for thechild to learn to drink from the straw since they do not also have tolearn to manipulate a valve. The present invention's straw is preferredto replace the sippy cup allowing the child additional health benefits.Also, the present invention can be made in all sizes to fitmanufacturer's needs. We mention the standard size for example purposes,however, it can be made to fit any manufacturer's specific bottle neck,etc. This patent also comes with a sealing disk that works as a seal toprevent liquid from spilling during travel or storage. Still furtherobject and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of theensuing description and drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a device for a one-piece babybottle cap, flexible straw and sealing disk. The one-piece cap having anupper side and lower side, side walls to attach to a baby bottle neck,an inlet which is perpendicular from top to bottom for the flexiblestraw, and a raised cylindrical ridge which goes all the way around theunderside of the cap. A flexible straw having a first end and secondend, an outer and inner wall defining a lumen. Also included is asealing disk having an upper side and lower side, which the lower sidehas an outward protrusion and gripping mechanism. The sealing disk whichis used to store the liquid or to travel with liquid in the bottle andis inserted into the one-piece cap and held in place when the one-piececap is tightened onto the baby bottle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates the top view of the one-piece threaded cap withinlet for the flexible straw.

FIG. 1B illustrates the side view of the one-piece cap with inlet forthe flexible straw.

FIG. 1C illustrates the view if the one-piece cap was cut in half,showing inside threads in the cavity.

FIG. 2A illustrates the top view of the sealing disk to use fortraveling and storage.

FIG. 2B illustrates the bottom view of the sealing disk with thegripping mechanism.

FIG. 2C illustrates a side view of the sealing disk.

FIG. 2D illustrates the side view of the sealing disk when cut in half.

FIG. 3 illustrates the one-piece cap with the flexible straw assembledonto a bottle (the bottle is included in the illustration fordemonstration purposes).

FIG. 4 illustrates the one-piece cap, flexible straw and the sealingdisk for travel or storage assembled onto a bottle (the bottle isincluded in the illustration for demonstration purposes).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichthe like reference numbers indicate like parts of the invention.

The present invention includes a one-piece cap with a flexible straw anda sealing disk. The foregoing specification sets forth the invention inits preferred form, but the size and structure of the components shownare capable of modification within a range of equivalents withoutdeparting from the invention. It will be understood that the materialsof the following are not exhaustive, and that other materials may besuitable and may be used in the manufacture of parts, devices,assemblies, and systems having features of the invention. In general,the size and material of the component parts of the one-piece cap withflexible straw and sealing disk can be designed to accommodate variousneeds. The present invention may incorporate any type of FDA-approvedplastics, rubber or glass, or other suitable materials. It is understoodthat any materials, or combinations thereof, that are suitable fortoddler handling and meet FDA standards are contemplated to be withinthe scope of the present invention. The current dimensions of preferredembodiments have been designed. The foregoing specification sets forththe invention in its preferred, practical forms but the size andstructure of the components shown are capable of modification within arange of equivalents without departing from the invention. It will beunderstood that the invention disclosed and defined in thisspecification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more ofthe individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings.All of these different combinations constitute various alternativeaspects of the invention.

Turning to FIG. 1A, the top view of the one-piece cap 100 with inlet 102for the flexible straw (located on FIG. 3, 118). It is preferred thatthe one-piece cap 100 has a generally cylindrical shape, but it couldtake another shape if necessary to fit a specific manufacturer's needs.The outermost top edge 101 is rounded, but can be in various shapes. Theone-piece cap 100 is preferably constructed of FDA approved plastic suchas polypropylene or similar plastic material. Many potential acceptablematerials will be known to one skilled in the art, and any meets thespecifications necessary to be considered food-grade plastic, or othersuitable materials. It is understood that any materials, or combinationsthereof, that are suitable for infant handling and meet FDA standardsare contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention. Thepreferred size of the one-piece cap 100 is standard size, however, itcan be manufactured in different sizes to fit bottles various brands onthe market. The bottles sold on the market come in various proprietarysizes; and sizes of bottle neck diameter may vary. For example, Playtex,Advent, and other companies, manufacture bottles with necks that aredifferent in size from the standard size and the interior diameter canbe variable depending on the bottle neck. The preferred placement of theinlet 102 for the flexible straw is in the center, however it can beplaced in other locations on top. The inlet structure starts with araised edge 102 is about 10 mm in diameter and starts a change in angle104 between the outermost rim 102 and the innermost rim 103 creating aconical angle. The interior of the inlet guides the flexible straw. Thecylindrical hole 103 about 6 mm in diameter to accommodate the flexiblestraw (located on FIG. 3, 118), but can be other measurements. Theinnermost hole 103 applies a small amount of pressure on the flexiblestraw (located on FIG. 3, 118) to create a seal to avoid spills and tohold the movable straw in place. Also on the one-piece cap 100 there isa smaller hole 105 to act as a vent to relieve any internal pressurewhen the child is sucking on the straw. I presently prefer the vent,however, it may not have a vent. The cavity or underside of the top ofthe one-piece cap has a cylindrical raised ridge 106 for the purpose ofholding the sealing disk FIG. 2 in place along with further creating aseal for the bottle neck when the sealing disk FIG. 2 is not being used.

FIG. 1B illustrates the side view of the cap showing the protrusion ofthe uppermost part of the inlet 102 for the flexible straw (located onFIG. 3, 118). The cavity of the one-piece cap shows the raisedcylindrical ridge 106 that goes all the way around the cavity. You canalso see the thickness of the cap 107. The sides 108 of the one-piececap may be plain, have a design, or grips around the side foradministering the cap onto the bottle neck. The bottom rim 109 of theone-piece cap may be flat or have additional ridging or other shapes.

FIG. 1C illustrates a cut away view that further shows the cavity of theone-piece cap's threaded 110 interior to twist onto the threading of abottle neck. The preferred method of attachment to a bottle neck is withinterior threading, however, the mechanism attachment accommodations maybe recesses, bosses, guide holes, tabs, snap fit connector, bayonetconnector or other similar means or any other alignment and connectionmechanism to what is needed to accommodate a particular manufactures'means of attachment to their brand's bottle neck. FIG. 1C furtherillustrates the conical angle 104 between the outermost raised rim ofthe inlet 102 and the innermost descended rim of the inlet 103 for theflexible straw (located on FIG. 3, 118). The conical angle 104 is asignificant area of distance of about 5 mm, however it can have othermeasurements. The conical angle 104 then comes the innermost area 103 toallow a small amount of pressure to be applied to the flexible straw(located in FIG. 3, 118) in order for it to be held in place. The topangle 104 is about 45 degrees, but can be other measurements and allowsthe straw to move in a variety of positions and angles to suit thechild. After the angle 104 comes to a point 103, the angle changesdirection 111 to about a 60 degree angle, but can be other measurements,creating a shape similar to an hour glass. This angle 111 entering thecavity can be there or cannot be there.

Turning to FIG. 2A illustrates the sealing disk 112 that is provided asan option to use if wanting to seal the bottle's liquid for storage ortravel. This way the bottle can be stored and fully covered and alsomoved around without the worry of liquid spilling out of the bottle. Thedisk 112 is inserted into the cavity of the one-piece cap with thenegative space created between points 114 and 115 pointing toward theinterior of the one-piece cap. There is a negative space in order tocompensate for any protrusions that the straw hole FIG. 1C, 111 creates,however, it can have other shapes. The sealing disk 112 is wide enoughto fit against the interior raised ridge of FIG. 1A-1C 106 so that theraised ridge of FIG. 1A-1C 106 will sit outside the sealing disk 112 andcreate a further seal to prevent liquid from coming out of the bottle.The one-piece cap illustrated in FIG. 1A-1C is then twisted onto thebottle neck sealing the bottle so no liquid can come out. The sealingdisk is preferably constructed of FDA approved plastic such aspolypropylene or similar plastic material. Many potential acceptablematerials will be known to one skilled in the art, and any meets thespecifications necessary to be considered food-grade plastic, or othersuitable materials. It is understood that any materials, or combinationsthereof, that are suitable for infant handling and meet FDA standardsare contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention. It ispreferred to be made out of the same material as the one-piece cap,however, it can be made of different material. The width of the sealingdisk edges 113 is about 1 mm, however, measurements can be differentwidth.

FIG. 2B illustrates the underside of the sealing disk. There is aprotrusion between points 114 and 115 that fits into the bottle neck.The protrusion is preferred, but does not have to be there. Theprotrusion can have various measurements, be flat, curved or take onother shapes. There is a plastic bar 116 going across the diameter ofthe protrusion 115 for the convenience of gripping the sealing diskshould it get stuck in the one-piece cap. The plastic bar is preferred,but does not have to be there or can take on various other shapes forgripping.

FIG. 2C illustrates a side view of the sealing disk.

FIG. 2D is a cut away view of the sealing disk showing a negative space117, the protrusion 115 and the gripping bar 116.

Turning to FIG. 3 this illustrates the one-piece cap 100 with theflexible straw 118 assembled onto a bottle 122. Although the patent onlyincludes the one-piece cap 100, flexible straw 118 and the sealing diskFIG. 4, 112, the bottle 122 is shown for demonstration purposes only.The elongated cylindrical portion, also known as the flexible straw 118having a first end and a second end, an outer wall and inner walldefining a lumen, the cavity of a tube. The flexible straw is preferablyconstructed of FDA approved plastic such as polyethylene or similarplastic material. Many potential acceptable materials will be known toone skilled in the art, and any meets the specifications necessary to beconsidered food-grade plastic, or other suitable materials. It isunderstood that any materials, or combinations thereof, that aresuitable for infant handling and meet FDA standards are contemplated tobe within the scope of the present invention. It is preferred to useflexible plastic which is transparent so that one can easily ascertainits cleanliness, the amount of liquid that is in the straw to see if thechild is getting liquid into their mouth for training purposes to teachdrinking out of a straw, and to flex to the height and distance for thechild's comfort. The flexible straw 118, is about 1 mm in thickness 119,however thickness of the flexible straw 118 can vary. It is preferredfor the flexible straw 118 to not have a valve in order to make drawingup liquid through the straw 118 easier, however it can have a valve.This patent presently prefers not having a valve in the flexible straw118, because valves make it harder to have the weaning child learn todraw liquid up from the straw and can delay the weaning process becausethe child will need to learn how to manipulate the valved straw in orderto draw up liquid. However, it is also contemplated that an alternativeembodiment of the flexible straw 118 may include a valve to preventspilling liquid once the child has learned to drink from a straw. Thepreferred length of the flexible straw 118 is about six and a halfinches or longer so that there is enough flexibility to bend the straw118 toward the child, however the length measurements may be shorter orlonger since there are varying bottle sizes such as 4 oz., 6 oz., 8 oz.,etc. The flexibility of the straw 118 also allows the end of the strawto follow the contour of the bottom of the bottle 122. The flexiblestraw 118 is preferred to be long enough that it can touch the bottom ofthe bottle allowing for it to rest or curve along the bottom of thebottle 123 in order to draw up all of the liquid in the bottle. Anotheradvantage of having the straw 118 flexible is that it fits the naturalcurve in the mouth and can be moved by the child for their preferredposition and drinking comfort. It also adjusts to the child's height andgives the child more ability to become comfortable with the straw sincethe flexible straw is conforming to the child and the child does nothave to conform to a hard straw or plastic mouthpiece. Cleanliness ofthe straw is not a concern since it is preferred to be transparent tosee if it is clean. There are also products on the market that can bepurchased that are meant to clean the inside of straws. FIG. 3 alsoillustrates where the bottle touches the interior of the one-piece cap100 illustrating that the bottle's neck 120 is interior to the one-piececap's raised ridge 106 in the cavity for extra sealing purposes. Theone-piece cap 100 is fully attached to the bottle's neck 120 showing ittightened leaving no space 121.

FIG. 4 illustrates the one-piece cap 100 with the sealing disk 112. Thesealing disk 112 takes up a small amount of interior space when theone-piece cap 100 is assembled onto the bottle neck. Because of this,the amount of the one-piece cap 100 is assembled onto the bottle's neckwill be slightly less as shown in 121. You can compare the amount theone-piece cap is able to be tightened when comparing FIG. 3, 121 versesFIG. 4, 121. The security of the one-piece cap 100 is not compromisednor will it leak because it is not only the threads (FIG. 1C, 110) thatare holding the one-piece cap 100 in place, but also the pressureagainst the threads (FIG. 1C, 110) that are created once the one-piececap 100 is twisted on. Since the sealing disk 112 only ads a smallamount of distance on top of the bottle neck 120, the majority of theone-piece cap 100 is able to be twisted on and does not compromise thesecurity of the one-piece cap 100 from staying in place. FIG. 4 alsoillustrates how the sealing disk 112 sits against the interior of theraised ridge 106 located on the one-piece cap's 100 cavity for furthersealing. When the sealing disk 112 is placed into the one-piece cap 100and is fully tightened the bottle's neck 120 it puts pressure on thesealing disk 112 and it is held into place from the pressure createdbetween the bottle's neck 120 and the one-piece cap 100. Furthermore,the interior raised ridge 106 on the underside of the one-piece cap 100encircles the sealing disk 112 creating a further seal to prevent anyliquid from coming out of the bottle 122. The straw 118 is illustratedhere as being bent into the bottle 122 for travel or storage purposes tokeep the entire contents together and not have to worry about extrapieces during storage or travel. Also illustrated is the negative space117 that allows for room to fit the protrusions that the one-piece cap100 creates. Furthermore, it is illustrated how the gripping bar 116fits into the bottle's cavity.

Various exemplary embodiments of the invention have been describedabove, however, it is understood that these various embodiments areexemplary only and should not limit the scope of the invention asrecited in the claims below. Various modification of the exemplaryembodiments described above can be implemented by those of ordinaryskill in the art, without undue experimentation. For example, althoughthe invention has been described in the context of a one-piece cap withflexible straw and sealing disk, it would be apparent to one of ordinaryskill in the art that the invention can be applied to systems comprisingof different types of material or design modifications for variousfeeding needs. These various modifications are contemplated to be withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below.

Having now described a few embodiments of the invention, and somemodifications and variations thereto, it should be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that the foregoing is merely illustrative and notlimiting, having been presented by the way of example only. Numerousmodifications and other embodiments are within the scope of one ofordinary skill in the art and are contemplated as falling within thescope of the invention as limited only by the appended claims andequivalents thereto.

What I claim as the invention is:
 1. A one-piece baby bottle capcomprising: a. said one-piece baby bottle cap having an upper side andlower side, an inlet in said one-piece baby bottle cap, a cylindricalwall circumscribing to the rim of said lower side of said one-piece babybottle cap, said cylindrical wall having an inner and outer wall, saidone-piece baby bottle cap lower side comprising a raised cylindricalridge, b. a flexible straw, having a first end and a second end, anouter wall and inner wall defining a lumen, and said flexible strawextending from the interior of the bottle through said baby bottle capinlet for conveying fluid out of the baby bottle. c. a removable sealingdisk, having an upper side and lower side, where the lower side of saidsealing disk contains an outward protrusion for attachment to said onepiece baby bottle cap, d. said baby bottle cap cylindrical wallcomprising a means for securing and removing said cylindrical wall tothe baby bottle neck, e. f. a means of attaching said sealing disk tothe underside of said one-piece baby bottle cap by attaching said upperside of said sealing disk, to said baby bottle cap underside whichcontains a protrusion that points toward said baby bottle neck betweenthe cylindrical wall of one-piece baby bottle cap and said baby bottleneck.
 2. Said inlet of said one-piece baby bottle cap of claim 1,further comprising of an edge circumscribing the outermost rim of saidinlet.
 3. Said inlet of said one-piece baby bottle cap of claim 2,further comprising an innermost hole which applies pressure on saidflexible straw creating a seal between said one-piece baby bottle capand said flexible straw.
 4. Said sealing disk of claim 3 furthercontains a gripping mechanism on the lower side of said sealing disk forgripping said sealing disk.
 5. (canceled)
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled) 8.(canceled)